System and method for digital film development using visible light

ABSTRACT

One aspect of the invention is a system for digital dye color film processing. In one embodiment, a developer station applies a processing solution to film to initiate development of metallic silver grains and at least one dye image within the film. A scanning system illuminates the coated film with light having at least one frequency within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The light interacts with the silver and at least one dye image within the film. The scanning station measures the light from the film and produces sensor data that is communicated to a data processing system. The data processing system processes the sensor data to produce a digital image. The digital image can then be output to an output device, such as a printer, monitor, memory device, and the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/197,620filed Jul. 16, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Images are used to communicate information and ideas. Images,including print pictures, film negatives, documents and the like, areoften digitized to produce a digital image that can then be instantlycommunicated, viewed, enhanced, modified, printed or stored. Theflexibility of digital images, as well as the ability to instantlycommunicate digital images, has led to a rising demand for improvedsystems and methods for film processing and the digitization of filmbased images into digital images. Film based images are traditionallydigitized by electronically scanning a film negative or film positivethat has been conventionally developed using a wet chemical developingprocess, as generally described below.

[0003] Undeveloped film generally includes a clear base and one or moreemulsion layers containing a dye coupler and a photosensitive material,such as silver halide, that is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation,i.e., light. In color films, independent emulsion layers are sensitizedto different bands, or colors, of light. In general, one or moreemulsion layers are sensitized to light associated with the colors ofred, green and blue. When a picture is taken, the photosensitivematerial is exposed to light from a scene and undergoes a chemicalchange. The greater the intensity of light interacting with thephotosensitive material, the greater the chemical change in thephotosensitive material. The photographic film can then be chemicallyprocessed to produce a fixed image of the scene based on this chemicalchange.

[0004] In a traditional wet chemical developing process, the film isimmersed and agitated in a series of tanks containing differentprocessing solutions. The first tank typically contains a developingsolution. The developing solution chemically reacts with the exposedsilver halide to produce elemental metallic silver grains in eachemulsion layer of the film. The metallic silver grains form a silverimage within each emulsion layer of the film. The by-product of thechemical reaction combines with a dye coupler in each emulsion layer tocreate a dye cloud. The color of the dye cloud is complementary to theband of light the emulsion layer has been sensitized to. For example,the red sensitized layer typically produces a cyan dye image, the greensensitized layer a magenta dye image, and the blue sensitized layer ayellow dye image. The density of the silver image and the correspondingdye image in each emulsion layer are directly proportional to theintensity of light the film was exposed to. The developing process isgenerally stopped by removing the film from the developer tank andrinsing the developing solution from the film with water or an acidicsolution.

[0005] Conventional wet chemical developing processes then removes boththe silver image and the undeveloped silver halide grains from the filmto produce a film negative having only a dye image within the filmnegative. To remove the silver image and undeveloped silver halide, thedeveloped film is immersed and agitated in a tank of bleaching solution.The bleaching solution chemically oxidizes the metallic silver grainsforming the silver image and converts the metallic silver grains intosilver halide. The bleached film is then immersed and agitated in a tankof fixer solution. The fixer solution removes the silver halide from thefilm by dissolving the silver halide crystals. The fixer solution isthereby contaminated with dissolved silver compounds and becomes ahazardous waste byproduct of the wet chemical developing process. Thefilm is then washed, stabilized and dried to produce a conventional filmnegative. The film negative can then be used to produce a correspondingimage on photographic paper by methods known to those skilled in theart.

[0006] Conventional film digitization processes scan the film negativeusing a conventional electronic scanner to produce a digital image thatelectronically represents the photographic image. Conventionalelectronic film scanners generally operate by directing white lightthrough the film negative. The light interacts with the dye image andthe intensity of light transmitted through the film is recorded by asensor that produces individual red, green and blue color data. Thesensor color data is used to produce the digital image.

[0007] A relatively new process under development is digital filmprocessing (DFP). DFP systems scan the film using light during thedevelopment process. DFP systems apply a thin coat of one or more filmprocessing solutions to the film and then scan the film. Neither theprocessing solutions nor the silver compounds are substantially removedfrom the film before or after scanning the film. DFP systems may bedesigned in a number of configurations depending upon the method of filmprocessing and the method of scanning the film. For example, the filmmay be processed by applying a developer solution, a developer solutionand fixer solution, a developer solution, fixer solution, and

[0008] The DFP scanning process is generally accomplished by measuringinfrared light reflected from the developed silver image in the frontand back emulsion layers, and measuring the infrared light transmittedthrough the film. The reflected and transmitted light measurements ofthe film provide data on the blue, red, and green sensitized emulsionlayers, respectively. The measured reflected and transmitted light datais processed to produce the digital image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One embodiment of the invention is an improved digital filmprocessing system. In this embodiment, the improved digital filmprocessing system includes a scanning system and a data processingsystem. The scanning system scans film and produces sensor data that iscommunicated to the data processing system. The film scanned by thescanning system includes silver and at least one dye cloud disposedwithin the film. The silver contained within the film may comprisedeveloped metallic silver, silver halide, or both. The data processingsystem processes the sensor data to produce a full color digital image.The digital image can be output to any suitable output device, such as amonitor, printer, memory device, and/or the Internet. In a particularembodiment, the digital color film processing system is embodied as aself-service kiosk for processing film.

[0010] Another embodiment of the invention is a system for developingand processing film to produce a digital image. In this embodiment, thesystem includes a film processing system, a scanning system, and a dataprocessing system. The film processing system operates to coat aprocessing solution onto the film that initiates development of a silverimage and at least one dye cloud within the film. In a particularembodiment, the film processing system includes a halt station thatoperates to retard development of the coated film after the film hasbeen developed for a predetermined amount of time. The halt station mayoperate by applying a halt solution to the coated film, chilling thefilm, drying the film, or any other suitable method for slowing thedevelopment of the film prior to scanning the film. The scanning systemscans at least one of the dye images (cyan, magenta, yellow) within thecoated film and outputs sensor data to the data processing system. Thescanning system scans the coated film using at least one frequency oflight within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thedata processing system receives and processes the sensor data to producethe digital image. The light used to scan the film may comprise bluelight, red light, green light, any combination thereof, and any othersuitable light, including infrared light. The scanning system may alsooperate to scan the film by measuring light transmitted through thefilm, reflected from the film, reflected and transmitted through thefilm, or any other suitable combination.

[0011] Another embodiment of the invention is a system for digitizing adeveloped film coated with a processing solution. In this embodiment,the system comprises at least one lighting system and at least onesensor system. The lighting system operates to illuminate the coatedfilm with visible light. The sensor system operates to measure the lightfrom the coated film and produce sensor data. In particular embodiments,the visible light includes blue light, green light, red light, or asuitable combination thereof. In yet another particular embodiment, thelighting system also operates to illuminate the film with infraredlight.

[0012] Yet another embodiment of the invention is a film processingsystem. In this embodiment, the film processing system comprises anapplicator station and a development station. The applicator stationoperates to coat a processing solution onto the film, wherein theprocessing solution initiates development of a silver image and at leastone dye image within the film. The development station operates tosubstantially control the environment surrounding the coated film duringdevelopment of the film. The film processing system may also include ahalt station that operates to retard the development of the film afterdevelopment of the film. In a particular embodiment, the halt stationapplies a halt solution to the film. The halt solution may comprise afixer solution, bleach solution, stop solution, blix (bleach plus fixer)solution, any combination thereof, or any other suitable solution.

[0013] One implementation of the invention is a method for developingand digitizing exposed film having multiple emulsion layers containingsilver halide. In this implementation, the method comprises coating aprocessing solution on the film to develop the exposed silver halidegrains and produce at least one dye image within the coated film. Thecoated film is then scanned with light within the visible portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum to produce a dye-silver record that is outputas sensor data. The sensor data is then processed to produce a digitalimage. In a particular implementation, processing the sensor dataincludes processing the dye-silver record using a silver record tosubstantially remove the effects of silver within the film.

[0014] Another embodiment of the invention is the production of digitalimages produced by digitally processing film that has a silver image andat least one dye image within the film. Digitally processing the filmcomprises scanning the film with light having at least one frequencywithin the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum andprocessing the scan data to produce the digital images. In a particularembodiment, the light used to scan the film comprises red, green, andinfrared light. In other embodiments, the film is scanned using lighttransmitted through the film, reflected from the film, reflected andtransmitted through the film, or any other suitable combination.

[0015] The invention has several important technical advantages. Variousembodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of theseadvantages. An advantage of at least one embodiment is thatenvironmentally hazardous effluents are not created by the removal ofsilver from the film. In particular, no water plumbing is required toprocess the film in accordance with at least one embodiment of theinvention. As a result, this embodiment is less expensive thatconventional wet chemical processing systems and can be located at anylocation. In contrast, conventional wet chemical processing of filmrequires water plumbing and removes the silver from the film, whichproduces environmentally hazardous effluents that are controlled by manygovernment regulatory agencies.

[0016] Another advantage of at least one embodiment of the invention isthat the invention can be embodied in a simple user operated filmprocessing system, such as a self-service kiosk. In this embodiment,skilled technicians are not required, thereby reducing the costassociated with developing and processing film. In addition, at leastone embodiment of the invention allows the film to be developed andprocessed faster than conventional wet chemical processing of the film.

[0017] Another advantage of at least one embodiment of the invention isthat data corresponding to the dye clouds in the film is used to producethe digital image. In other embodiments, data corresponding to thesilver image in the film is also used to produce the digital image. Incontrast, conventional digital film processing generally uses infraredlight to collect data corresponding only to the silver to produce adigital image. Accordingly, at least one embodiment produces a betterdigital image than produced by conventional digital film processing.

[0018] Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] For a more complete understanding of the invention and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals represent like parts, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a film processing systemoperable in a self service film processing system in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic view depicting a method for extracting atongue of a film from a film magazine;

[0022]FIG. 1C is a flow chart view depicting a method for extracting atongue of a film from a film magazine;

[0023]FIG. 1D is a perspective view depicting a film reverser accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

[0024]FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 1E-1E in FIG.1D

[0025]FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 1F-1F in FIG.1D;

[0026]FIG. 1G is a flow chart view depicting a method for processingfilm in a self service film processing system and in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

[0027]FIG. 1H is a block diagram view depicting a multiple film formatdeveloping system operable in a self service film processing system inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0028]FIG. 1I is a flow chart view depicting a method for processingfilm in a multiple film format developing system operable and in a selfservice film processing system in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

[0029]FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a development systemas shown in FIG. 1;

[0030]FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment ofthe development system shown in FIG. 1;

[0031]FIGS. 2B-1 through 2B-4 are schematic diagrams illustratingvarious embodiments of a halt station shown in FIG. 2B;

[0032]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning system shownin FIG. 1;

[0033]FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams illustrating variousembodiments of a scanning station shown in FIG. 3; and

[0034]FIGS. 5A-5B are flow charts illustrating various methods ofimproved digital film development in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035]FIGS. 1A through 5B illustrate various embodiments of an improvedmethod and system for digital film processing system using visiblelight. During the film development process, each exposed frame of filmproduces a silver image and a corresponding dye image. As described ingreater detail below, the digital color dye film processing system andmethod utilizes light within the visible portion of the electromagneticspectrum to scan color dye image without washing the silver from thefilm. In certain embodiments, other frequencies of light, such as lightin the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, is utilized toscan at least one of the silver images. The scan data is then used toproduce a digital image of the photographed scene. In a conventionalphotographic development process, the metallic silver and silver halideare removed from the film and the film is dried to produce a filmnegative. A conventional film scanner can then be used to scan the filmnegative to produce a digital image.

[0036] One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is an improveddigital film development system. In this embodiment, the improveddigital film development system comprises a data processing system and afilm processing system that operates to digitize a film to produce adigital image for output to an output device. Film, as used herein,includes color, black and white, x-ray, infrared or any other type offilm and is not meant to refer to any specific type of film or aspecific manufacturer.

[0037] The data processing system comprises any type of computer orprocessor operable to process data. For example, the data processingsystem may comprise a personal computer manufactured by Apple Computing,Inc. of Cupertino, California or International Business Machines of NewYork. The data processing system may also comprise any number ofcomputers or individual processors, such as application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). The data processing system may include aninput device operable to allow a user to input information into theimproved digital film development system. Although the input device isillustrated as a keyboard, the input device may comprise any inputdevice, such as a keypad, mouse, point-of-sale device, voice recognitionsystem, memory reading device such as a flash card reader, or any othersuitable data input device.

[0038] The data processing system includes image processing softwareresident on the data processing system. The data processing systemreceives sensor data from the film processing system. As described ingreater detail below, the sensor data is representative of the colorsand silver in the film at each discrete location, or pixel, of the film.The sensor data is processed by an image processing software to producethe digital image. The image processing software operates to compensatefor the silver in the film. In one embodiment, the image processingsoftware comprises software based on U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,301, entitledDefect Channel Nulling, which is incorporated herein by reference. Inthis embodiment, any silver remaining in the film is treated as a defectand each individual pixel color record is compensated to remove theeffect of the silver. Digitally compensating for the silver in the filminstead of chemically removing the silver from the film substantiallyreduces or eliminates the production of hazardous chemical effluentsthat are generally produced during conventional film processing methods.Although the image processing software is described in terms of actualsoftware, the image processing software may be embodied as hardware,such as an ASIC. The color records for each pixel form the digitalimage, which is then communicated to one or more output devices.

[0039] The output device may comprise any type or combination ofsuitable devices for displaying, storing, printing, transmitting orotherwise outputting the digital image. For example, as illustrated, theoutput device may comprise a monitor, a printer, a network system, amass storage device, a computer system, or any other suitable outputdevice. The network system may be any network system, such as theInternet, a local area network, and the like. The mass storage devicemay be a magnetic or optical storage device, such as a floppy drive,hard drive, removable hard drive, optical drive, CD-ROM drive, and thelike. The computer system may be used to further process or enhance thedigital image.

[0040] As described in greater detail below, the film processing systemoperates electronically scan the film to produce the sensor data. Lightused to scan the film includes light within the visible portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum. As illustrated, the film processing systemcomprises a transport system, a development system, and a scanningsystem. Although the improved digital film development system isillustrated with a development system, alternative embodiments of theimproved digital film development system do not require the developmentsystem. For example, the film may have been preprocessed and not requirethe development process described below.

[0041] The transport system operates to dispense and move the filmthrough the film processing system. In a preferred embodiment, thetransport system comprises a leader transport system in which a leaderis spliced to the film and a series of rollers advances the film throughthe film processing system, with care taken that the image surface ofthe film is not contacted. Similar transport systems are found in filmproducts manufactured by, for example, Noritsu Koki Co. of Wakayama,Japan, and are available to those in the art.

[0042] The development system operates to apply a processing solution tothe film, as described in greater detail in FIG. 2. The processingsolution initiates development of the dye clouds and the metallic silvergrains within the film. Additional processing solutions may also beapplied to the film. For example, stop solutions, inhibitors,accelerators, bleach solutions, fixer solutions, and the like, may beapplied to the film.

[0043] The scanning system scans the film through the processingsolutions applied to the film, as described in greater detail in FIG. 3.In other words, the processing solutions are not removed from the filmprior to the scanning process. In contrast, conventional film processingsystems remove the processing solution and dry the film to create aconventional film negative prior to any digitization process. Thescanning station scans the film using light within the visible portionof the electromagnetic spectrum. The visible light measures theintensity associated with the dye clouds as well as the silver withinthe film. In particular, one or more bands of visible light may be usedto scan the film. For example, the film may be scanned using visiblelight within the red, green and/or blue portions of the electromagneticradiation spectrum. In addition to scanning the film using visiblelight, the scanning system may also scan the film using light from otherportions of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, in oneembodiment, infrared light is also used to scan the film. The infraredlight scans the silver image by measuring the density of the metallicsilver grains within the film. In contrast, conventional film processingsystems remove substantially all the silver, both silver halide andmetallic silver, from the film 106 prior to any conventional scanningprocesses. Silver, whether metallic silver or silver halide crystals, inthe film negative interferes with the transmission of light through thefilm negative and would be digitized along with the image. Any silver inthe film negative would appear as defects in the resulting digitalimage.

[0044] In operation, exposed, but undeveloped film is fed into thetransport system. The film is transported through the developmentsystem. The development system applies a processing solution to the filmthat develops the film. The transport system moves the film through thescanning system. The scanning system scans the film using light withinat least one portion of the visible light portion of the electromagneticspectrum. Light from the film is measured by the sensor system, whichproduces sensor data. The sensor data represents the dyes images plusthe silver in the film at each pixel. The sensor data is communicated todata processing system. The data processing system processes the sensordata using image processing software to produce the digital image. Thedata processing system may also operate to enhance or otherwise modifythe digital image. The data processing system communicates the digitalimage to the output device for viewing, storage, printing,communicating, or any combination of the above.

[0045] In a particular embodiment of the improved digital filmdevelopment system; the improved digital film development system isadapted to a self service film processing system, such as a kiosk. Theself service film processing system is uniquely suited to new locationsbecause no plumbing is required to operate the self service filmprocessing system. In addition, the developed images can be prescreenedby the user before they are printed, thereby reducing costs andimproving user satisfaction. In addition, the self service filmprocessing system can be packaged in a relatively small size to reducethe amount of floor space required. As a result of these advantages, aself service film processing system can be located in hotels, collegedorms, airports, copy centers, or any other suitable location.

[0046] In other embodiments, the improved digital film developmentsystem may be used for commercial film lab processing applications.Again, because there is no plumbing and the environmental impact ofprocessing the film 106 is substantially reduced or eliminated, theinstallation cost and the legal liability for operating such a film labis reduced. The improved digital film development system can be adaptedto any suitable application without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention.

[0047]FIG. 1A is a diagram of a film processing system 130 in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention. The film processing system 130 iscapable of providing film developing utility for a self service filmprocessing system, for commercial film lab processing applications andthe like. The film processing system 130 is self-contained, thus noplumbing is required for transporting chemicals or other materials toand/or from the film processing system 130.

[0048] The film processing system 130 includes a light-tight enclosure132 having a plurality of process stations therein. Each one of theprocess stations is capable of carrying out one or more operationassociated with developing a film provided in a roll format. Theplurality of process stations define a process path of the filmprocessing system 130. It is advantageous for each one of the filmprocessing stations to be positioned and constructed to minimize arespective occupied volume of space. In this manner, the overall size ofthe enclosure 132 can be minimized, thus reducing space requirements forthe film processing system 130.

[0049] The film processing system 130 includes a film magazine loadingstation 134. The film loading station is capable of receiving a filmmagazine 136 containing a roll of a film 138. The film magazine loadingstation 134 includes a film magazine port 140, a magazine carriage 142,an access panel 144 and a data acquisition device 146. It iscontemplated herein that the film magazine 136 may be received from aperson or from an automated film magazine delivery system.

[0050] One embodiment of the film magazine port 140 includes the accesspanel 144 being operable for being selectively moved between an openposition and a closed position. For example, upon a valid authorizationcode such as a credit card authorization being received by anappropriate portion of the improved digital film development system, asdisclosed herein, the access panel 144 is moved from the closed positionto the open position. With the access panel 144 in the open position, auser (e.g. a customer, employee, etc.) deposits the film magazine 136through the film port 140 into the magazine carriage 142. The accesspanel 144 is maintained in the closed position, except when a roll offilm is being deposited into the magazine carriage 142. Accordingly, thepotential for vandalism to be facilitated through the film port 140 isreduced.

[0051] The data acquisition capture device 146 is capable of acquiringfilm attribute data from the film magazine 136. One embodiment of thedata acquisition device 146 is a bar code reader capable of reading abar code provided on the film magazine 136. Such film attribute dataincludes a film speed, a number of exposures, a date of manufacture ofthe film, film processing data, a film manufacturer and the like. If thefilm attribute data of the film 138 does not match that of expected data(e.g. the film is of an unknown manufacturer, has unknown filmprocessing data, etc.) the film magazine is returned to the user or themechanical magazine delivery system. As discussed below in greaterdetail, such film attribute data is further useful and/or necessary forvarious of the operations performed by the film processing system 130.

[0052] The magazine carriage 142 includes a magazine receiver thatfacilitates holding the film magazine 136 during operations at the filmmagazine loading station 134, transporting the film magazine 136 to atongue preparation station 148 and holding the film magazine 136 duringoperations at the tongue preparation station 148. The tongue preparationstation 148 is an example of a film preparation station. It iscontemplated herein that a film magazine transport apparatus may beimplemented for transporting the magazine carriage 142 from the filmmagazine loading station 134 to the tongue preparation station 148. Alinear transport device and a rotary transport device are examples ofthe film magazine transport apparatus.

[0053] The tongue preparation station 148 includes a tongue extractiondevice 150, a first film cutting device 152, a second film cuttingdevice 154, driven feed rollers 156 and a film diverter 158. The tongueextraction device 150 is capable of extracting a tongue of film 138 fromwithin the film magazine 136. The first film cutting device 152 and thesecond film cutting device 154 are capable of cutting a tongue and atail, respectively, of film 138. It is contemplated herein that acombination film cutting device (not shown) capable of cutting both thetongue and the tail of the film 138 may replace the first film cuttingdevice 152 and the second film cutting device 154.

[0054] An embodiment of a tongue extraction method 160 is depicted inFIGS. 1B and 1C. An operation 162 is performed for inserting a tonguestripper 164 through a light-tight film window 166 of the film magazine136. The tongue stripper 164 is configured such that a leading end 168of the tongue stripper 164 is canted toward a spindle 167 of the filmmagazine 136 and into engagement with the film 138. In this manner, theleading end 168 of the tongue stripper 164 is in preloaded engagementwith the film 138.

[0055] After performing the operation 162 for inserting the tonguestripper 164, an operation 169 is performed for enabling synchronousinsertion of a leading end 170 of a tongue extractor 171 relative to thetongue 172 of the film 138. Enabling synchronous insertion is definedherein to mean that the leading end 170 of the tongue extractor 171 isinserted into the film magazine 136 at an essentially common velocity asa rotational velocity of the tongue 172 of the film 138 and at aprescribed relationship to the tongue 172 of the film 138. In thismanner, the probability of extracting the tongue 172 is increasedrelative to conventional tongue extraction techniques.

[0056] One embodiment of the operation 169 for enabling synchronousinsertion of the tongue extractor 171 includes a step 169A, FIG. 1C, forrotating the film 138 at a known and constant speed in a film rewinddirection. In response to performing the step 169A for rotating the film138 in the rewind direction, the film 138 is wrapped into a relativelytightly formed coil around the spindle 167 of the film magazine 136. Asthe tongue 172 of the film travels past the leading ende 168 of thetongue stripper 164, a ‘tick’ is produced as the leading end 168 of thetongue stripper 168 as it re-engages the film 138. A sequence of suchticks is an example of tongue extractor synchronizing data.

[0057] In response to rotating the film 138, a step 169B is performedfor monitoring ticks generated by rotation of the film 138. It iscontemplated herein that an acoustic, a mechanical or an otherwisesuitable device may be used for monitoring such ticks. One embodiment ofmonitoring the acoustic tick includes associating the acoustic tick withan angular position of the spindle 167, such as via an angular encoder.

[0058] After monitoring the acoustic tick for one or more revolutions ofthe film 138, a step 169C is performed for determining insertionsynchronization parameters for the tongue extractor 171. The objectiveof the synchronization parameters is to enable the tongue extractor 171to be inserted into the film magazine 136 with minimal relative movementbetween the tongue extractor 171 and points of contact with the film 138and with the leading end 170 of the tongue extractor 171 maintained at adesired position relative to the tongue 172 of the film 138. One exampleof determining insertion synchronization parameters includes determiningan insertion synchronizing spindle speed and a tongue extractorinsertion dwell. The insertion synchronizing spindle speed is a speed atwhich the spindle 167 is rotated for minimizing, and preferablyeliminating, relative movement between the tongue extractor 171 andpoints of contact with the film 138 as the tongue extractor 171 is beinginserted into the film magazine 136. The tongue extractor insertiondwell is a time delay, incremental spindle rotation, or other suitabledwell parameter that synchronizes initiation of a tongue extractorinsertion operation with respect to the angular position of the spindle167. Alternatively, initiation of the tongue insertion operation couldbe based on a correlation between the acoustic tick pattern (e.g. timebetween ticks) and tongue extractor insertion dwell.

[0059] After the tongue extractor synchronization parameters aredetermined, a step 169D is performed for implementing the tongueextraction synchronization parameters. Examples of implementing thetongue extraction synchronization parameters includes rotating themagazine spindle 167 at the synchronizing spindle velocity and verifyingthat the tongue extractor is at a prescribed position.

[0060] After the operation 169 is performed for enabling synchronousinsertion of the tongue extractor 171, an operation 173 is performed forinserting the tongue extractor 171 into the film magazine 136 throughthe light-tight film window 166 of the film magazine 136. The tongueextractor 171 is positioned adjacent to an outside face 174 of thetongue stripper 164. Accordingly, the tongue extractor 171 follows aninterior surface 176 of the film magazine 136 as it is inserted into thefilm magazine 136.

[0061] One embodiment of the operation 173 for inserting the tongueextractor 171 into the film magazine 136 includes synchronouslydecelerating the spindle 167 and the tongue extractor 171 for achievingrespective stopped positions. In this manner, relative movement betweenthe tongue extractor 171 and points of contact with the film 138 isminimized or preferably eliminated. The stopped position of the tongueextractor 171 is at least partially defined by a prescribed insertiondistance of the tongue extractor 171.

[0062] After performing the operation 173 for inserting the tongueextractor 171 into the film magazine 136, an operation 178 is performedfor withdrawing the tongue extractor 171 from the film magazine 136. Oneembodiment of the operation 178 for withdrawing the tongue extractor 171from the film magazine 136 includes synchronously accelerating thespindle 167 in a direction opposite the rewind direction andaccelerating the tongue extractor 171 in a withdrawal direction. In thismanner, relative movement between the tongue extractor 171 and points ofcontact with the film 138 is minimized or preferably eliminated. As thetongue extractor 171 is withdrawn from the film magazine 136, the tongue172 is drawn over the film stripper 164 and is carried out of thelight-tight film window 166. Another embodiment of the operation 178 forwithdrawing the tongue extractor 171 into the film magazine 136 includesallowing the film 138 to free-wheel while the tongue extractor 171 isbeing withdrawn.

[0063] The tongue extractor 171 includes a friction pad 180, FIG. 1B,attached to the tongue extractor 171. The friction pad 180 is positionedsuch it is capable of engaging a surface of the film 138. Furthermore,the tongue extractor 178 and the film stripper 164 are configured forexerting a nominal clamping force on the tongue 172. Accordingly, thefriction pad 180 remains engaged on a mating surface of the film 138 asthe tongue extractor 171 is withdrawn from the film magazine 136.

[0064] In response to withdrawing the tongue extractor 171 from the filmmagazine 136, an operation 181, FIG. 1C, is performed for determining ifthe tongue 172 of the film 138 was successfully withdrawn from the filmmagazine 136. In response to the tongue 172 of the film 138 beingsuccessfully withdrawn, an operation 182 is performed for removing thetongue stripper 164 from the film magazine 136. In response to thetongue 172 of the film 138 not being successfully withdrawn, the methodreturns to the operation 169 for enabling synchronous insertion of aleading edge 170 of a tongue extractor 171 relative to the tongue 172 ofthe film 138.

[0065] Referring back to FIG. 1A, tongue of the film 138 is extracted ina manner in which the tongue it positioned between the driven feedrollers 156. In this manner, driven feed rollers 156 are capable ofpulling the film 138 from the film magazine 136. As the film 138 isbeing pulled from the film magazine 136, the tongue (i.e. the leadingend) of the film 138 is routed through a film diverter 158.

[0066] The film diverter is capable of being moved between threepositions. The film divert 158 is movable to a tongue trimming positionfor enabling the tongue of the film to be trimmed by the first filmcutting device 152. The film divert 158 is movable to a film reverserposition for enabling the film to be routed through a film inspectionstation 190 and to a film reversing station 192. The film diverter 158is movable to a bypass position for routing the film 138 to a splicingstation 193.

[0067] The film inspection station 190 is capable of detectingimperfections and defects in the film 138. Examples of imperfections anddefects include scratches, tears, cuts, missing perforations and thelike. If the film 138 is found to have significant imperfections ofdefects, the film 138 can be rewound into the film magazine 136. A CMOSlinear array in conjunction with low angle lighting on a surface of thefilm 138 is an example of an arrangement for detecting surfacescratches, cuts and tears. A photo diode aligned with an LED is anexample of an arrangement for detecting missing perforations. In aninstance where the film 138 is found to be unsuitable for processing inthe film processing system 130, the film processing system 130 iscapable of rewinding the film 138 in the magazine 136 and facilitatingdisposition of the film 138. Examples of facilitating disposition of thefilm 138 include returning the film magazine 136 to an correspondinguser, directing the film magazine 136 to a storage bin and returning thefilm magazine 136 to an corresponding magazine delivery system.

[0068] The film 138 passes through the inspection station 190 and isreceived in a film reverser 194 at the film reversing station 192. Thefilm reverser 194 facilitates reversing the orientation of the film 138such that a tail end of the film 138 becomes a leading end 195 of thefilm 138 and the tongue of the film 138 becomes a trailing end 196 ofthe film 138. Accordingly, the orientation of the film 138 is reversedas the film 138 continues from the reversing station 192 through theremaining stations of the film processing system 130.

[0069] The tail end (leading end 195) of the film 138 was originallyattached to a spindle of the film magazine 136. Accordingly, the tailend (leading end 195) of the film 138 is unexposed. As discussed belowin greater detail, it is advantageous to reverse the direction of thefilm 138 such that the calibration exposure is positioned at the leadingend 195 of the film 138.

[0070] An embodiment of the film reverser 194 is depicted in FIGS. 1Dthrough 1F. The film reverser 194 includes a body 197, a spindle 198mounted in a cavity 200 of the body 197, and a door 202 for covering afilm passage 204. The spindle 198 is rotatably mounted on the body 197for being rotated about a longitudinal axis of the cavity 200. Thespindle 198 includes a shaft 206 for enabling the spindle 198 to berotated by a suitable drive device (e.g. an electric motor). The filmpassage 204 extends from an exterior surface of the body 197 to thecavity 200. The door 202 is movable, such as by a solenoid, between anopen position 0 and a closed position C with respect to the film passage204. When in the closed position C, light is effectively precluded fromentering the body 197 through the film passage 204.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1D through 1F, the tongue of the film138 is fed, such as by the driven feed rollers 156, into the cavity 200through the film passage 204. The film 138 makes an initial wrap aroundthe spindle 198. The spindle 198 is being rotated as the film 138 isbeing fed into the cavity 200. In one embodiment of rotating the spindle198, the spindle 198 is rotated at a speed providing a higher spindlesurface velocity that the velocity at which the film 138 is being fedinto the reverser 194. Accordingly, the speed differential between thespindle 194 and the film 138 acts to wind the film 138 into a relativelytight roll against the spindle 198.

[0072] Referring back to FIG. 1A, as the driven feed rollers 156 pullthe film 138 from the film magazine 136 and the film is fed into thereverser 194, a total length of the film 138 that has been pulled fromthe film magazine 136 is monitored. Examples of monitoring the totallength of film 138 include computing the total length based on arotational angle of one or both of the driven feed rollers 156, based ona number of electrical pulses set to a stepper motor or based on a totalnumber of counted perforations. When excessive withdrawal force isencountered as the film 138 is being pulled from the film magazine 136,the length of film 138 that has been withdrawn from the film magazine136 is compared to an expected length of film 138. One technique fordetermining the expected length of the film 138 involves calculating theexpected length of the film 138 based at least partially on filmattribute data (e.g. the number of exposures) captured by the dataacquisition capture device 146 at the film magazine loading station 134.Techniques for determining withdrawal force include using a forcetransducer to measure a force required to hold the magazine carriage 142at a given position, using a displacement transducer for determiningmovement of the magazine carriage 142 and measuring a requiredelectrical of a motor driving the feed rollers 156.

[0073] During the operation of pulling the film 138 from the filmmagazine 136, the feed rollers 156 continue to drive until a prescribedcondition is met if the withdrawn length is within limits of theexpected length when excessive withdrawal force is detected. Examples ofthe prescribed condition resulting in the film 138 being cut include the“paster tape” that anchors the tail end of the film 138 to the spindleof the film magazine 136 being detected by a sensing device, aprescribed current of a drive motor being exceeded or a surface of thefilm magazine 136 is detected by a suitable sensing device. When suchprescribed condition is met, the tail end of the film 138 is cut by thesecond film cutting device 154, thus freeing the film 138 from the filmmagazine 136.

[0074] The feeding operation is stopped prior to the tail of the film180 passing through the driven feed rollers 156. Accordingly, the tailof the film 138 remains positioned between the driven feed rollers 156.After the tail of the film 138 is cut from the spindle of the filmmagazine 136, the film magazine 136 is deposited into a waste receptacle208.

[0075] The film processing system 130 is capable of rejecting the film138 and returning it to the user or the film delivery system if thewithdrawn length is not within the limits expected when excessivewithdrawal force is detected. In one embodiment of a technique forrejecting and returning the film 138, the film 138 is rewound into thefilm magazine 136 by a suitable drive system (not shown) and thenreturned to the user, returned to the film delivery system or depositedin a storage bin. An example of a suitable drive system is one that iscapable of driving the spindle of the film magazine 136.

[0076] Once the film 138 is fully wound into the film reverser 194, thefilm diverter 158 is moved to the bypass position for routing the film138 from the film reversing station 192 to the splicing station 193. Thefilm 138 is then fed from the film reverser 194 to the splicing station193 for being spliced to a threaded leader 210.

[0077] At a leader supply station 212, the threaded leader 210 is cut bya leader cutting device 214 prior to the leading end 195 of the film 138reaching the splicing station 193. In response to cutting the threadedleader 210 from a leader supply roll 214, a trailing end 216 of thethreaded leader 210 is defined. The trailing end 216 of the threadedleader 210 is positioned at a splicing device 218 of the splicingstation 193. A heated splicing head is an example of the splicing device218. A supply of thermal splicing tape 220 is provided to the splicingdevice 218.

[0078] When the leading end 195 of the film 138 is positioned at thesplicing device 218, the splicing device 218 is activated forfacilitating splicing of the leading end 195 of the film 138 to thetrailing end 216 of the threaded leader 210. Examples of techniques forpositioning of the leading end 195 of the film 138 at the splicingstation include using a sensor to sense the leading end 195 and feedingthe leading end 195 of the film 138 a prescribed feed distance from thereversing station 192. It is contemplated herein that the leader supplyroll 214 and leader material attached thereto may need to be rewoundpartially, such as via leader feed rollers 222, for enabling the leadingend 195 of the film 138 to be positioned at the splicing device 218.

[0079] The use of the threaded leader 210 as disclosed hereinadvantageously permits the film processing system 130 to sequentially,but not necessarily continually process multiple rolls of film. Thethreaded leader 210 provides a simple yet effective means of threadingthe film 138 from the reversing station 192 through the remainingstations of the film processing system 130.

[0080] As depicted in FIG. 1A, when the leading edge 195 of the film 138reaches the reversing station 192, a previously processed film 224 is aconsiderable distance ahead of the film 138 along the process path. Forexample, in the case of a self service film processing system, filmprocessed for a first customer will be completed before beginning theprocessing of film for a second customer. Implementation of the threadedleader 210 provides continuity along the process path between variousrolls of film. It is contemplated herein that the leader alsofacilitates processing of an initial roll of film upon startup of thefilm processing system 130.

[0081] The film processing system 130 includes a cleaning station 226.One embodiment of the cleaning station 226 includes a first particletransfer roller positioned for being engaged by a first surface of thefilm 138 and a second particle transfer roller positioned for beingengaged by a second surface of the film 138. The cleaning station 226 ispreferably positioned between the splicing station 193 and a calibrationexposure station 228. However, it is contemplated herein that thecleaning station 226 may be positioned after the calibration exposurestation 228. It is further contemplated herein that a first portion ofthe cleaning station 226 (e.g. the first particle transfer roller) maybe positioned before the calibration exposure station 228 and a secondportion of the cleaning station 226 (e.g. the second particle transferroller) may be after the calibration exposure station 228. Preferably,the particle transfer roller that is engaged by the side of the film 138that receiving a calibration exposure is positioned before thecalibration exposure station 228.

[0082] The calibration exposure station 228 facilitates the calibrationexposure being made on an unexposed portion of the film 138. Asdiscussed above, film 138 is reversed such that an unexposed portion ofthe film 138 is provided at the leading end 195 of the film 138.Accordingly, information provided by the calibration exposure is capableof being determined prior to any of the frame exposures of the film 138being digitally processed as disclosed herein.

[0083] Providing the calibration exposure at the leading end 195 ratherthan the trailing end 196 of the film 138 advantageously permits imagesfrom the film 138 to be processed by a data processing system, such asthe data processing system of the improved digital film processingsystem disclosed herein, in parallel with the film 138 being developed.For example, after a first frame exposure is developed, processing of animage associated with the first frame exposure is performed by the dataprocessing system of the improved digital film processing system while asecond frame exposure is developed by the film processing system 130.Such parallel processing reduces an overall processing time for a rollof film and the time required for displaying a first image and eachsubsequent image for a roll of film.

[0084] A buffer station 230 provides a variable length of the film 138and/or threaded leader 210 for allowing one portion of the film 138 tobe maintained in a moving state while another portion of the film 138,the threaded leader 210 or both is at an idle state. For example,process operations associated with an applicator station 232, adevelopment station 234 and a scanning station 236 are preferablyperformed on a first portion of the film 138 while the film 138 ismoving at a constant speed. While such continuous process operations areperformed at the applicator station 232, the development station 234 andthe scanning station 236, intermittent operations are being performed onsecond portion of the film 138 and/or the threaded leader at thesplicing station 193 and at the calibration exposure station 228. Theseintermittent operations require the film 138 to be at an idle state fora period of time. The variable length of film 138 and/or threaded leader210 provided by the buffer station 230 permits such continuous andintermittent process operations to co-exist in the film processingsystem 130.

[0085] At the applicator station 232, a processing solution is appliedto the film 138. The development station 234 operates to give the film138 sufficient time to develop prior to developed images being scannedat the scanning station 236. Various aspects of the applicator station232 and the development station 234 are disclosed in greater detail inreference to FIG. 2. Various aspects of the scanning station 236 aredisclosed in greater detail in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. A web take-upstation 237 includes a driven-reel for having processed film andattached leaders wound thereon.

[0086] The magazine loading station 134, the tongue extraction station148, the reversing station 192, the splicing station 193, the leadersupply station 212 and the web take-up station 237 comprise a transportsystem in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Such atransport system is particularly suited for a developing system intendedfor use in a self service film processing system. Specifically, theconstruction and utility of the magazine loading station 134, the tongueextraction station 148, the reversing station 192, the splicing station193, the leader supply station 212 and the web take-up station 237 arewell-suited for a self service film processing system. However, it iscontemplated herein that such a transport system may also be useful inother types of film processing system besides a self service filmprocessing system.

[0087] A method 240 for processing film in a developing system, such asthe film processing system 130 and in accordance with the disclosuresherein is depicted in FIG. 1G. In the method 240, an operation 242 isperformed for receiving a film magazine having a roll of film therein.One embodiment of the method 242 for receiving the film magazineincludes receiving an authorization such as a customer credit cardauthorization of an employee identification authorization andsubsequently enabling one or more film magazines to be deposited in anappropriate apparatus of the film developing system.

[0088] In response to receiving the film magazine, an operation 244 isperformed for determining one or more process parameters associated withthe film. One embodiment of a technique for determining the one or moreprocess parameters is reading a barcode provided by the filmmanufacturer on each film magazine. It is contemplated herein that thefilm magazine and film therein may be returned to an operator of thedeveloping system if the one or more film processing parametersindicates that the film is not capable of being processed by thedeveloping system.

[0089] After the one or more process parameters are determined and thefilm is determined to be processible by the developing system, anoperation 246 is performed for extracting a tongue of the film fromwithin the film magazine. A preferred embodiment of the operation 246for extracting the tongue of the film from within the film magazine isdisclosed above in reference to FIG. 1B and 1C. After the tongue of thefilm is extracted from the magazine, an operation 248 is performed forreversing a direction of the film such that an end of the film adjacentto a spindle of the film magazine is a leading end of the film along aprocess path of the developing system.

[0090] An operation 250 for inspecting the film is performed in parallelwith the operation 248 for reversing the film. The film is inspected fordefects such as tears, cuts, missing perforations, etc. It iscontemplated herein that in other embodiments of the operation forinspecting the film, the film is inspected before the operation forrevering the film is performed or after the operation for inspecting thefilm is performed.

[0091] In response to the operation 250 for inspecting the film findingthe film to not be in a suitable condition for further processing, anoperation 252 is performed for re-winding the film in the film magazineand an operation 254 is performed for dispensing the film magazine fromthe developing system. It is contemplated herein that the operation 254for dispensing the film magazine from the developing system includesreturning the film to a customer/operator, depositing the film in a binor the like.

[0092] In response to the operation 250 for inspecting the film findingthe film to be in a suitable condition for further processing, anoperation 256 is performed for cutting a tail end of the film free fromthe spindle of the film magazine. After the tail end of the film is cutfree from the spindle, the tail end of the film becomes a leading end ofthe film and an operation 258 is performed for splicing the leading endof the film to a trailing end of a threaded leader. The threaded leaderis threaded through at least a portion of the process stations of thedeveloping system.

[0093] After splicing the leading end of the film to the trailing end ofthe threaded leader, an operation 260 is performed for cleaning thefilm. Examples of techniques for cleaning the film include transportingeach side of the film over respective particle transfer rollers,exposing each side of the film to a stream of air, discharging staticenergy from surfaces of the film an a combination of such techniques.After cleaning the film or in parallel with cleaning the film, anoperation 262 is performed for creating a calibration exposure on anunexposed portion of the film. One embodiment of creating thecalibration exposure includes creating the calibration exposure on theleading end of the film.

[0094] After creating the calibration exposure, an operation 264 isperformed for applying a processing solution on a surface of the filmover a plurality of exposed images in a photo-sensitive media on thefirst surface of the film. After applying the processing solution overat least a portion of the exposed images, an operation 266 is performedfor enabling development of each one of the images having the processingsolution applied thereto. In response to applying the processingsolution and performing the operation for enabling development, anexposed image becomes a developed image. Various aspects of applying theprocessing solution (i.e. the operation for applying the processingsolution) and of developing exposed images (i.e. the operation fordeveloping the exposed images) are disclosed in greater detail inreference to FIG. 2.

[0095] In parallel with developing each one of the exposed images orafter all of the developed images are created, an operation 268 isperformed for scanning each one of the developed images. Various aspectsof the scanning the developed images (i.e. the operation for scanningeach one of the developed images) are disclosed in greater detail inreference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0096] In response to the trailing end of the film reaching the splicingstation, an operation 269 is performed for splicing the trailing end ofthe film to a leading end of a new section of leader. Accordingly, asthe film continues along the process path through the developing system,the leader is threaded along the process path behind the film. In thismanner, the leader facilitates threading of a subsequent roll of filmthrough the process stations positioned along the process path after thesplicing station.

[0097]FIG. 1H is a diagram of a multi-film format developing system 270in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The developingsystem 270 is capable of providing film developing utility for a selfservice film processing system, for commercial film lab processingapplications and the like. The developing system 270 is further capableof providing film developing functionality for at least two differenttypes of film formats. APS and 135 are examples of two different typesof film formats. The developing system 270 is self-contained, thus noplumbing is required for transporting chemicals or other materials toand/or from the developing system 270.

[0098] The developing system 270 includes a first film format deliveryapparatus 272 and a second film format delivery apparatus 274. The firstfilm format delivery apparatus 272 and the second film format deliveryapparatus are capable of delivering a leading end of a respective rollof a film to a leader splicing station 276 of the developing system 270.The first film format delivery apparatus 272 is capable of deliveringfilm associated with a first film format (e.g. APS film format) to theleader splicing station 276. The second film format delivery apparatus274 is capable of delivering film associated with a second film format(e.g. 135 film format) to the leader splicing station 276.

[0099] One embodiment of the first film format delivery apparatus 272includes a film magazine loading station 278, a film preparation station280 and a film inspection station 282. The film magazine loading station278 of the first film format delivery system 272 is capable of receivinga film magazine associated with the first film format. The first filmformat preparation station 280 of the first film format delivery system272 is capable of preparing film (e.g. trimming a tongue) associatedwith the first format for being transported through the developingsystem 270. The first film format inspection station 282 of the firstfilm format delivery system 272 is capable of inspecting film associatedwith the first film format.

[0100] One embodiment of the second film format delivery apparatus 274includes a film magazine loading station 284, a film preparation station286, a film inspection station 288 and a film reversing station 290. Thefilm magazine loading station 284 of the second film format deliveryapparatus 274 is capable of receiving a film magazine associated withthe second film format. The film preparation station 286 of the secondfilm format delivery apparatus 274 is capable of preparing film (e.g.trimming a tongue) associated with the second format for beingtransported through the developing system 270. The film inspectionstation 288 of the second film format delivery apparatus 274 is capableof inspecting film associated with the second film format. The filmreversing station 290 of the second film format delivery apparatus 274is capable of reversing film associated with the second film format.

[0101] Film is capable of being separately routed to the leader splicingstation 276 from each one of the film delivery apparatuses of thedeveloping system 270. The leader splicing station 276 receives a supplyof leader material from a leader supply station 292. Depending on thecondition, the leader supply station 292 provides a trailing end of aleader for being spliced to a leading end of film or a leading end of aleader for being spliced with a trailing end of film. Accordingly,continuity is maintained along a process path of the developing system270 between various rolls of film.

[0102] A cleaning station 294 is located in a downstream position fromthe leader splicing station 276 along the process path of the developingstation 270. The cleaning station 294 is capable of cleaning at leastone side of film as film travels through the cleaning station 294. Acalibration exposure station 296 is located in a downstream positionfrom the cleaning station 294 along the process path of the developingstation 270. The calibration exposure station 296 is capable ofgenerating a calibration exposure in a photographic layer of film assuch film passes through the calibration exposure station 296.

[0103] An applicator station 298 is located in a downstream positionfrom the calibration exposure station 296 along the process path of thedeveloping station 270. The applicator station 298 is capable ofapplying a layer of processing solution to at least one side of film assuch film travels through the applicator station 298. A developmentstation 300 is located in a downstream position from the applicatorstation 298 along the process path of the development system 270. Thedevelopment station 300 is capable of enabling development of exposedimages in the photographic layer of film as such film passes through thedevelopment station 300. A scanning station 302 is located in adownstream position from the development station 300 along the processpath of the developing station 270. The scanning station 302 is capableof scanning developed images in the photographic layer of film as suchfilm passes through the scanning station 302. A web take-up station 304includes a driven-reel for having processed film and attached leaderswound thereon.

[0104] The first film format delivery apparatus 272, the second filmformat delivery apparatus 274, the splicing station 276, the leadersupply station 292 and the web take-up station 304 comprise a transportsystem in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Such atransport system is particularly suited for a developing system intendedfor use in a self service film processing system capable of processingat least two types of film formats. However, it is contemplated hereinthat such a transport system may also be useful in other types of filmprocessing system besides a self service film processing system.

[0105]FIG. 1I depicts a method 306 for processing film in a multi-filmformat developing system, such as the developing system 270 depicted inFIG. 1H, and in accordance with the disclosures herein. In the method306, an operation 308 is performed for receiving a film magazine havinga roll of film therein. One embodiment of the method 308 for receivingthe film magazine includes receiving an authorization such as a customercredit card authorization of an employee identification authorizationand subsequently enabling one or more film magazines to be deposited inan appropriate apparatus of the film developing system.

[0106] In response to receiving the film magazine, an operation 310 isperformed for determining one or more process parameters associated withthe film. One embodiment of a technique for determining the one or moreprocess parameters is reading a barcode provided by the filmmanufacturer on each film magazine. It is contemplated herein that thefilm magazine and film therein may be returned to an operator of thedeveloping system if the one or more of the film processing parametersindicates that the film is not capable of being processed by thedeveloping system.

[0107] After the one or more process parameters are determined and thefilm is determined to be processible by the developing system, anoperation 312 is performed for determining if a tongue of the filmrequires extraction from the film magazine. The one or more processparameters are used for determining whether tongue of the film requiresextraction from the film magazine. In response to determining that thefilm of the tongue needs extraction from the film magazine (e.g. 135film format), an operation 314 is performed for extracting the tongue ofthe film from within the film magazine. A preferred embodiment of theoperation 314 for extracting the tongue of the film from within the filmmagazine is disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1B and 1C.

[0108] After the tongue of the film is extracted from the magazine or inresponse to determining that the film of the tongue does not needextraction from the film magazine (e.g. APS film format), an operation316 is performed for determining if the film requires reversing. Asdisclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1A and ID, film reversing isassociated with placement of a calibration exposure. In response todetermining that film reversing is required, an operation 318 isperformed for reversing a direction of the film such that an end of thefilm adjacent to a spindle of the film magazine becomes a leading end ofthe film along a process path of the developing system.

[0109] An operation 320 for inspecting the film is performed in parallelwith the operation 318 for reversing the film. The film is inspected fordefects such as tears, cuts, missing perforations, etc. It iscontemplated herein that in other embodiments of the operation forinspecting the film, the film is inspected before the operation forrevering the film is performed or after the operation for inspecting thefilm is performed.

[0110] In response to the operation 320 for inspecting the film findingthe film to not be in a suitable condition for further processing, anoperation 322 is performed for re-winding the film in the magazine andan operation 324 is performed for dispensing the film magazine from thedeveloping system. It is contemplated herein that the operation 324 fordispensing the film magazine from the developing system includesreturning the film to a customer/operator, depositing the film in a binor the like.

[0111] In response to the operation 320 for inspecting the film findingthe film to be in a suitable condition for further processing or inresponse to reversing of the film not being required, an operation 326is performed for splicing the leading end of the film to a trailing endof a threaded leader at a splicing station. The threaded leader isthreaded through at least a portion of the process stations of thedeveloping system. It is contemplated herein that other operations maybe performed between the operation 316 for determining if reversing isrequired and the operation 326 for splicing the film. Examples of suchother operations include an inspection operation if film reversing isnot required, a cutting operation for cutting the film from a spindle ofthe film magazine, etc.

[0112] After splicing the leading end of the film to the trailing end ofthe threaded leader, an operation 328 is performed for cleaning thefilm. Examples of techniques for cleaning the film include transportingeach side of the film over respective particle transfer rollers,exposing each side of the film to a stream of air, discharging staticenergy from surfaces of the film an a combination of such techniques.After cleaning the film or in parallel with cleaning the film, anoperation 330 is performed for creating a calibration exposure on anunexposed portion of the film. One embodiment of creating thecalibration exposure includes creating the calibration exposure on theleading end of the film.

[0113] After creating the calibration exposure, an operation 332 isperformed for applying a processing solution on a surface of the filmover a plurality of exposed images in a photo-sensitive media on thefirst surface of the film. After applying the processing solution overat least a portion of the exposed images, an operation 334 is performedfor enabling development of each one of the images having the processingsolution applied thereto. In response to applying the processingsolution and performing the operation for enabling development, anexposed image becomes a developed image. Various aspects of applying theprocessing solution (i.e. the operation for applying the processingsolution) and of developing exposed images (i.e. the operation fordeveloping the exposed images) are disclosed in greater detail inreference to FIG. 2.

[0114] In parallel with developing each one of the exposed images orafter all of the developed images are created, an operation 336 isperformed for scanning each one of the developed images. Various aspectsof the scanning the developed images (i.e. the operation for scanningeach one of the developed images) are disclosed in greater detail inreference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0115] In response to the trailing end of the film reaching thesplicing, an operation 338 is performed for splicing the trailing end ofthe film to a leading end of a new section of leader. Accordingly, asthe film continues along the process path through the developing system,the leader is threaded along the process path behind the film. In thismanner, the leader facilitates threading of a subsequent roll of filmthrough the process stations positioned along the process path after thesplicing station.

[0116]FIG. 1J is a diagram of a rotary type transport system 340 inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention. The transportsystem 340 includes a first film format delivery apparatus 342, a secondfilm format delivery apparatus 344, a rotary film magazine transportapparatus 346, a film splicing station 348, a leader supply station 350and a web take-up station 352. The first film format delivery apparatus342 and the second film format delivery apparatus 344 each include oneor more film process stations. Examples of film process stations includea film magazine loading station, a tongue extraction station, areversing station and an inspection station.

[0117] The first film format delivery apparatus 342 and the second filmformat delivery apparatus 344 are capable of delivering a leading end ofa roll of a film to a leader splicing station 348 via the rotary filmmagazine transport apparatus 346 The first film format deliveryapparatus 342 and the second film format delivery apparatus 344 areoperationally and/or structurally attached to the rotary film magazinetransport apparatus 346. The rotary film magazine transport apparatus346 is capable of being rotated for delivering film from the first filmformat delivery apparatus 342 and the second film format deliveryapparatus 344 to the splicing station 348.

[0118]FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of a development system 122. Inthis embodiment, a development system 122 a comprises an applicatorstation 400 and a development station 402. The applicator station 400operates to apply a relatively uniform coating of a processing solution404 to the film. In one embodiment, the processing solution 404comprises a color developer solution, such as Flexicolor Developer forProcess C-41 available from the Eastman Kodak Company. In otherembodiments, the processing solution 404 comprises other suitablesolutions. For example, the processing solution 404 may comprise amonobath solution that acts as a developer and stop solution.

[0119] The applicator station 400 comprises an applicator 406, a fluiddelivery system 408, and a reservoir 410. The applicator 406 operates tocoat the film 106 with the processing solution 404. In the preferredembodiment, as illustrated, the applicator 406 comprises a slot coaterdevice. In alternative embodiments, the applicator 406 comprises an inkjet applicator, a tank, an aerosol applicator, drip applicator, spongeapplicator, or any other suitable device for applying the processingsolution 404 to the film 106. The fluid delivery system 408 delivers theprocessing solution 404 from the reservoir 410 to the applicator 406. Inan embodiment in which the applicator 406 comprises a slot coaterdevice, the fluid delivery system 408 generally delivers the processingsolution 404 at a constant volumetric flow rate to help insureuniformity of coating of processing solution 404 on the film 106. Thereservoir 410 contains a sufficient volume of processing solution 404 toprocess multiple rolls of film 106. In the preferred embodiment, thereservoir 410 comprises a replaceable cartridge. In other embodiments,the reservoir 410 comprises a refillable tank. The applicator station400 may comprise other suitable systems and devices for applying theprocessing solution 404 to the film 106.

[0120] The development station 402 operates to give the film 106 time todevelop prior to being scanned by the scanning system 124. In theembodiment illustrated, the development station 402 forms that portionof the transport system 120 between the applicator 406 and the scanningsystem 124. The length of the development station 402 is generallydependent upon the development time of the film 106. In particular,depending upon the environment and chemical nature of the processingsolution 404, development of the film 106 may require as little as a fewseconds to as long as several minutes.

[0121] As illustrated, the development station 402 comprises a cover 412that protects the film 106 during development. The cover 412 forms anenvironmental chamber 414 surrounding the film 106. The temperature andhumidity within the environmental chamber 414 are strictly controlled.To facilitate controlling the temperature and humidity, theenvironmental chamber 414 has a minimum volume surrounding the film 106.The cover 412 may be insulated to maintain a substantially constanttemperature as the film 106 is developed. In order to maintain thetemperature, the development station 402 preferably includes a heatingsystem 416. As illustrated, the heating system 416 may include a heatedroller 418 and heating element 420. In addition, the heating system 416may include a processing solution heating system (not expressly shown)that heats the processing solution 404 prior to its application to thefilm 106.

[0122] In operation, transport system 120 transports the film 106through the applicator station 400. Fluid delivery system 408 dispensesthe processing solution 404 from the reservoir 410 through theapplicator 406 onto the film 106. The processing solution 404 initiatesdevelopment of the dye image and silver image within the film 106. Thecoated film 106 is then transported through the development station 402.As discussed above, the development station 402 allows the film 106 timeto develop within a controlled environment. The film 106 is thentransported by the transport system 120 to the scanning system 124. Asdescribed above, the processing solution 404 coated on the film 106 isnot removed, but remains on the film 106 as the film 106 is transportedto the scanning system 124.

[0123]FIG. 2B illustrates an alternative development system 122 b. Inthis embodiment, the development system 122 b comprises an applicatorstation 400, a development station 402, and a halt station 422. Thedeveloper applicator station 400 and the development station 402 werepreviously discussed in FIG. 2A. The applicator station 400 againapplies the processing solution 404 to the film 106 that initiatesdevelopment of the silver image and dye image within the film 106. Haltstation 422 operates to retard or substantially stop the continueddevelopment of the film 106. Retarding or substantially stopping thecontinued development of the film 106 increases the amount of time thefilm 106 can be exposed to visible light without substantially foggingof the film 106. FIGS. 2B-1-2B4 illustrate different examples of thehalt station 422.

[0124]FIG. 2B-1 illustrates a halt station 422 a that operates to applyat least one halt solution 424 to the film 106 coated with processingsolution 404. The halt solution 424 retards or substantially stops thecontinued development of the film 106. In the embodiment illustrated,the halt station 422 a comprises an applicator 406 b, a fluid deliverysystem 408 b, and a reservoir 410 b, similar in function and design asdescribed in FIG. 2A. Although a single applicator 406 b, fluid deliverysystem 408 b, and reservoir 410 b are illustrated, the halt station 422a may comprise any number of applicators 406 b, fluid delivery systems408 b, and reservoirs 410 b that apply other suitable halt solutions 424and other suitable solutions.

[0125] In one embodiment, the halt solution 424 comprises a bleachsolution. In this embodiment, the bleach solution substantially oxidizesthe metallic silver grains forming the silver image into a silvercompound, which may improve the transmission of light through the film106 during the scanning operation. In another embodiment, the haltsolution 424 comprises a fixer solution. In this embodiment, the fixersolution substantially dissolves the silver halide, which can alsoimprove the transmission of light through the film 106. In yet anotherembodiment, multiple halt solutions 424 are applied to the film 106. Forexample, a fixer solution can be applied to the film 106 and then astabilizer solution can be applied to the film 106. In this example, theaddition of the stabilizer desensitizes the silver halide within thefilm 106 and may allow the film 106 to be stored for long periods oftime without sensitivity to light. The halt solution 424 may compriseany other suitable processing solution. For example, the halt solution424 may comprise an aqueous solution, a blix solution (mixture of bleachand fix solutions), a stop solution, or any other suitable solution orcombination of processing solutions for retarding or substantiallystopping the continued development of the film 106.

[0126]FIG. 2B-2 illustrates a halt station 422 b that operates to chillthe developing film 106. Chilling the developing film 106 substantiallyslows the chemical developing action of the processing solution 404. Inthe embodiment illustrated, the chill station 422 b comprises anelectrical cooling plate 426 and insulation shield 428. In thisembodiment, the cooling plate 426 is electronically maintained at a cooltemperature that substantially arrests the chemical reaction of theprocessing solution 404. The insulation shield 428 substantially reducesthe heat transfer to the cooling plate 426. The chill halt station 422 bmay comprise any other suitable system and device for chilling thedeveloping film 106.

[0127]FIG. 2B-3 illustrates a halt station 422 c that operates to drythe processing solution 404 on the coated film 106. Drying theprocessing solution 404 substantially stops further development of thefilm 106. In the embodiment illustrated, the halt station 422 ccomprises an optional cooling plate 426, as described in FIG. 2B-2, anda drying system 430. Although heating the coated film 106 wouldfacilitate drying the processing solution 404, the higher temperaturewould also have the effect of accelerating the chemical reaction of theprocessing solution 404 and film 106. Accordingly, in the preferredembodiment, the film 106 is cooled to retard the chemical action of theprocessing solution 404 and then dried to effectively freeze-dry thecoated film 106. Although chilling the film 106 is preferred, heatingthe film 106 to dry the film 106 can also be accomplished byincorporating the accelerated action of the developer solution 404 intothe development time for the film 106. In another embodiment in which asuitable halt solution 424 is applied to the film 106, the chemicalaction of the processing solution 404 is already minimized and the film106 can be dried using heat without substantially effecting thedevelopment of the film 106. As illustrated, the drying system 430circulates air over the film 106 to dry the processing solution 404 anddepending upon the embodiment, the halt solution 424. The halt station422 c may comprise any other suitable system for drying the film 106.

[0128]FIG. 2B-4 illustrates a halt station 422 d that operates tosubstantially remove excess processing solution 404, and any excess haltsolution 424, from the film 106. The halt station 422 d does not removethe solutions 404, 424 that are absorbed into the film 106. In otherwords, even after the wiping action, the film 106 includes some solution404, 424. Removing any excess processing solution 404 will retard thecontinued development of the film 106. In addition, wiping any excesssolutions 404, 424 from the film 106 may improve the light reflectanceand transmissivity properties of the coated film 106. In particular,removal of the excess solutions 404, 424 may reduce any surfaceirregularities in the coating surface, which can degrade the scanningoperations described in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the embodimentillustrated, the halt station 422 d comprises a wiper 432 operable tosubstantially remove excess processing solution 404 and any haltsolution 424. In a particular embodiment, the wiper 432 includes anabsorbent material that wicks away the excess solutions 404, 424. Inanother embodiment, the wiper 432 comprises a squeegee that mechanicallyremoves substantially all the excess solutions 404, 424. The haltstation 422 d may comprise any suitable device or system operable tosubstantially remove any excess solutions 404, 424.

[0129] Although specific embodiments of the halt station 422 have beendescribed above, the halt station 422 may comprise any suitable deviceor system for retarding or substantially stopping the continueddevelopment of the film 106. In particular, the halt station 422 maycomprise any suitable combination of the above embodiments. For example,the halt station 422 may comprise an applicator station 400 b forapplying a halt solution 424, a cooling plate 426, and a drying system430. As another example, the halt station 422 may comprise a wiper 432and a drying system 430.

[0130]FIG. 3 is a diagram of the scanning system 124. Scanning system124 comprises one or more scanning stations 500. Individual scanningstations 500 may have the same or different architectures andembodiments. Each scanning station 500 comprises a lighting system 502and a sensor system 504. The lighting system 502 includes one or morelight sources 506 and optional optics 508. The sensor system 504includes one or more detectors 510 and optional optics 512. Inoperation, the lighting system 502 operates to produce suitable light520 that is directed onto the film 106. The sensor system 504 operatesto measure the light 520 from the film 106 and produce sensor data 116that is communicated to the to the data processing system of theimproved digital film processing system disclosed herein.

[0131] Each scanning station 500 utilizes electromagnetic radiation,i.e., light, to scan the film 106. Individual scanning stations 500 mayhave different architectures and scan the film 106 using differentcolors, or frequency bands (wavelengths), and color combinations. Inparticular, different colors of light interact differently with the film106. Visible light interacts with the dye image and silver within thefilm 106. Whereas, infrared light interacts with the silver, but the dyeimage is generally transparent to infrared light. The term “color” isused to generally describe specific frequency bands of electromagneticradiation, including visible and non-visible light.

[0132] Visible light, as used herein, means electromagnetic radiationhaving a wavelength or band generally within the electromagneticspectrum of near infrared light (>700 nm) to near ultraviolet light(<400 nm). Visible light can be separated into specific bandwidths. Forexample, the color red is generally associated with light within afrequency band of approximately 600 nm to 700 nm, the color green isgenerally associated with light within a frequency band of approximately500 nm to 600 nm, and the color blue is generally associated with lighthaving a wavelength of approximately 400 nm to 500 nm. Near infraredlight is generally associated with radiation having a wavelength ofapproximately 700 nm to 1500 nm. Although specific colors andwavelengths are described herein, the scanning station 500 may utilizeother suitable colors and wavelengths (frequency) ranges withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0133] The light source 506 may comprise one or more devices or a systemthat produces suitable light 520. In the preferred embodiment, the lightsource 506 comprises an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In thisembodiment, different LEDs within the array may be used to producedifferent colors of light 520, including infrared light. In particular,specific colors of LEDs can be controlled to produce short durationpulses of light 520. In another embodiment, the light source 506comprises a broad spectrum light source 506, such as a fluorescent,incandescent, tungsten-halogen, direct gas discharge lamps, and thelike. In this embodiment, the sensor system 504 may include filters forspectrally separating the colors of light 520 from the film 106. Forexample, as described below, a RGB filtered trilinear array of detectorsmay be used to spectrally separate the light 520 from the film 106. Inanother embodiment of a broad-spectrum light source, the light source506 includes a filter, such as a color wheel, to produce the specifiedcolors of light 520. In yet another embodiment, the light source 506comprises a point light source, such as a laser. For example, the pointlight source may be a gallium arsenide or an indium gallium phosphidelaser. In this embodiment, the width of the laser beam is preferably thesame size as a pixel on the film 106 (˜12 microns). Filters, such as acolor wheel, or other suitable wavelength modifiers or limiters maybeused to provide the specified color or colors of light 520.

[0134] Optional optics 508 for the lighting system 502 directs the light520 to the film 106. In the preferred embodiment, the optics 508comprises a waveguide that directs the light 520 onto the film 106. Inother embodiment, the optics 520 includes a lens system for focusing thelight 520. In a particular embodiment, the lens system includes apolarizing filter to condition the light 520. The optics 508 may alsoinclude a light baffle 522 a. The light baffle 522 a constrainsillumination of the light 520 within a scan area in order to reducelight leakage that could cause fogging of the film 106. In oneembodiment, the light baffle 522 a comprises a coated member adjacentthe film 106. The coating is generally a light absorbing material toprevent reflecting light 520 that could cause fogging of the film 106.

[0135] The detector 510 comprises one or more photodetectors thatconvert light 520 from the film 106 into data signals 116. In thepreferred embodiment, the detector 510 comprises a linear charge coupleddevice (CCD) array. In another embodiment, the detector 510 comprises anarea array. The detector 510 may also comprise a photodiode,phototransistor, photoresistor, and the like. The detector 510 mayinclude filters to limit the bandwidth, or color, detected by individualphotodetectors. For example, a trilinear array often includes separatelines of photodetectors with each line of photodetectors having a colorfilter to allow only one color of light to be measured by thephotodetector. Specifically, in a trilinear array, the array generallyincludes individual red, green, and blue filters over separate lines inthe array. This allows the simultaneous measurement of red, green, andblue components of the light 520. Other suitable types of filters may beused. For example, a hot mirror and a cold mirror can be used toseparate infrared light from visible light.

[0136] Optional optics 512 for the sensor system 504 directs the light520 from the film 106 onto the detector 510. In the preferredembodiment, the optics 512 comprises a lens system that directs thelight 520 from the film 106 onto the detector 510. In a particularembodiment, the optics 512 include polarized lenses. The optics 512 mayalso include a light baffle 522 b. The light baffle 522 b is similar infunction to light baffle 522 a to help prevent fogging of the film 106.

[0137] As discussed previously, individual scanning stations 500 mayhave different architectures. For example, light 520 sensed by thesensor system 504 may be transmitted light or reflected light. Light 520reflected from the film 106 is generally representative of the emulsionlayer on the same side of the film 106 as the sensor system 504.Specifically, light 520 reflected from the front side (emulsion side) ofthe film 106 represents the blue sensitive layer and light 520 reflectedfrom the back side of the film 106 represents the red sensitive layer.Light 520 transmitted through the film 106 collects information from alllayers of the film 106. Different colors of light 520 are used tomeasure different characteristics of the film 106. For example, visiblelight interacts with the dye image and silver within the film 106, andinfrared light interacts with the silver in the film 106.

[0138] Different architectures and embodiments of the scanning station500 may scan the film 106 differently. In particular, the lightingsystem 502 and sensor system 504 operate in concert to illuminate andsense the light 520 from the film 106 to produce suitable sensor data116. In one embodiment, the lighting system 502 separately appliesdistinct colors of light 520 to the film 106. In this embodiment, thesensor system 504 generally comprises a non-filtered detector 510 thatmeasures in series the corresponding colors of light 520 from the film106. In another embodiment, multiple unique color combinations aresimultaneously applied to the film 106, and individual color records arederived from the sensor data 116. In another embodiment, the lightingsystem 502 simultaneously applies multiple colors of light 520 to thefilm 106. In this embodiment, the sensor system 504 generally comprisesa filtered detector 510 that allows the simultaneous measurement ofindividual colors of light 520. Other suitable scanning methods may beused to obtain the required color records.

[0139] The use of the halt station 422 may improve the scanningproperties of the film 106 in addition to retarding or substantiallystopping the continued development of the film 106. For example, theintensity of light 520 transmitted through the film 106 may be partiallyblocked, or occluded, by the silver within the film 106. In particular,both the silver image and silver halide within the film 106 occludelight 520. On the whole, the silver image within the film 106 absorbslight 520, and the silver halide reflects light 520. The halt solutions424 may be used to improve the scanning properties of the film 106. Forexample, applying a bleach solution to the film 106 reduces the opticaldensity of the silver image within the film 106. Applying a fixersolution to the film 106 reduces optical density of silver halide withinthe film 106. Another method for improving the scanning properties ofthe film 106 is drying the film 106. Drying the film 106 improves theclarity of the film 106.

[0140] As described above, the scanning system 124 may include one ormore individual scanning stations 500. Specific examples of scannerstation 500 architectures are illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. The scanningsystem 124 may comprise any illustrated example, combination ofexamples, or other suitable methods or systems for scanning the film106.

[0141]FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station 500a having a transmission architecture. As illustrated, the transmissionscanning station 500 a comprises a lighting system 502 a and a sensorsystem 504 a. Lighting system 502 a produces light 520 a that istransmitted through the film 106 and measured by the sensor system 504a. The sensor system 504 a produces sensor data 116 a that iscommunicated to the data processing system of the improved digital filmprocessing system disclosed herein. Lighting system 502 a and sensorsystem 504 a are similar in design and function as lighting system 502and sensor system 504, respectively. Although FIG. 4A illustrates thelight 520 a being transmitted through the film 106 from the backside tothe frontside of the film 106, the light 520 a can also be transmittedthrough the film 106 from the frontside to the backside of the film 106without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0142] In one embodiment of the scanning station 500 a, the light 520 aproduced by the lighting system 502 a comprises visible light. Thevisible light 520 a may comprise broadband visible light, individualvisible light colors, or combinations of visible light colors. Thevisible light 520 a interacts with the silver and at least one dye cloudwithin the film 106. In particular, depending upon the embodiment of thedevelopment system 122, the silver remaining in the film 106 may bemetallic silver, silver compound, or both.

[0143] In an embodiment in which the visible light 520 a interacts withthe magenta, cyan and yellow dye images within the film 106, as well asthe silver within the film 106, the sensor system 504 a records theintensity of visible light 520 a from the film 106 and produces sensordata 116 a. The sensor data 116 a generally comprises a red, green, andblue record corresponding to the cyan, magenta, and yellow dye images,respectively. Each of the red, green, and blue records includes a silverrecord. As previously discussed, the silver partially occludes thevisible light 520 a being transmitted through the film 106. Accordingly,the red, green, and blue records are generally processed by the dataprocessing system of the improved digital film processing systemdisclosed herein to correct the records for the occlusion caused by thesilver image in the film 106.

[0144] In the preferred embodiment of the transmission scanning station500 a, the light 520 a produced by the lighting system 502 a comprisesvisible light and infrared light. As discussed above, the visible lightmay comprise broadband visible light, individual visible light colors,or combinations of visible light colors. The infrared light may compriseinfrared, near infrared, or any suitable combination. The visible light520 a interacts with the silver and at least one dye image, i.e. cyan,magenta, or yellow dye images, within the film 106 to produce a red,green, and/or blue record that includes a silver record. The infraredlight interacts with the silver within the film 106 and produces asilver record. The silver image record can then be used to remove, atleast in part, the silver metal record contained in the red, green, andblue records. This embodiment is analogous to the defect correctionelectronic scanners described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,805, entitledSystem and Method for Image Recovery, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference. In this embodiment, the silver is analogous to adefect that obstructs the optical path of the infrared light. The amountof occlusion is used as a basis for modifying the color records. Forexample, in pixels having a high silver density, the individual colorrecords are significantly increased, whereas in pixels having a lowsilver density, the individual color records are relatively unchanged.

[0145] In yet another embodiment of the transmission scanning station500 a, the light produced by the lighting system 502 a comprisesinfrared or near infrared light. In this embodiment, the infrared light520 a interacts with the silver image in the film 106 but does notsubstantially interact with the dye images within the film 106. In thisembodiment, the sensor data 116 a does not spectrally distinguish themagenta, cyan, and yellow dye images. An advantage of this embodiment isthat the infrared light 520 a does not fog the film 106. In a particularembodiment, the advantage of not fogging the film 106 allows the film106 to be scanned at multiple development times without significantlyfogging the film 106. In this embodiment, the scanning station 500 a canbe used to determine the optimal development time for the film 106. Thisembodiment may optimally be used to determine the optimal developmenttime of the film 106, which can then be scanned using another scanningstation 500

[0146]FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station 500b having a reflection architecture. The reflective scanning station 500b comprises a lighting system 502 b and a sensor system 504 b. Lightingsystem 502 b produces light 520 b that is reflected from the film 106and measured by the sensor system 504 b. The sensor system 504 bproduces sensor data 116 b that is communicated to the data processingsystem of the improved digital film processing system disclosed herein.Lighting system 502 b and sensor system 504 b are similar to lightingsystem 502 and sensor system 504, respectively.

[0147] In one embodiment of the reflective scanning station 500 b usedto scan the blue emulsion layer of the film 106, the light 520 bproduced by the lighting system 502 b comprises blue light. In thisembodiment, the blue light 520 b scans the silver image and dye imagewithin the blue layer of the film 106. The blue light 520 b interactswith the yellow dye image and also the silver in the blue emulsionlayer. In particular, the blue light 520 b is reflected from the silverhalide and measured by the sensor system 504 b to produce a blue record.Many conventional films 106 include a yellow filter below the blueemulsion layer that blocks the blue light 520 a from illuminating theother emulsion layers of the film 106. As a result, noise created bycross-talk between the blue emulsion layer and the red and greenemulsion layers is substantially reduced.

[0148] In another embodiment of the reflective scanning station 500 bused to scan the blue emulsion layer of the film 106, the light 520 bproduced by the lighting system 502 b comprises non-blue light. It hasbeen determined that visible light other than blue light interacts insubstantially the same manner with the various emulsion layers. In thisembodiment, infrared light also interacts in substantially the samemanner as non-blue light, with the exception that infrared light willnot fog the emulsion layers of the film 106. In this embodiment, thenon-blue light 520 b interacts with the silver image in the blueemulsion layer of the film 106, but is transparent to the yellow dyewithin the blue emulsion layer of the film 106. This embodiment is proneto higher noise levels created by cross-talk between the blue and greenemulsion layers of the film 106.

[0149] In yet another embodiment of the reflective scanning station 500b, the light 520 b produced by the lighting system 502 b comprisesvisible and infrared light. In this embodiment, blue light interactswith the yellow dye image and the silver image in the blue emulsionlayer, green light interacts with magenta dye image and the silver imagein each of the emulsion layers, red light interacts with the cyan dyeimage and the silver in each of the emulsion layers, and the infraredlight interacts with the silver in each emulsion layer of the film 106.In this embodiment, the sensor system 504 b generally comprises afiltered detector 510 b (not expressly shown) that measures the red,green, blue, and infrared light 520 b from the film 106 to produce red,green, blue, and infrared records as sensor data 116 b.

[0150] Although the scanning station 500 b is illustrated with thelighting system 502 b and the sensor system 504 b located on front sideof the film 106, the lighting system 502 b and the sensor system 504 bmay also be located on the back side of the film 106. In one embodiment,the light 520 b produced by the lighting system 502 b may comprise redlight. The red light largely interacts with the cyan dye image andsilver in the red emulsion layer of the film 106 to produce a red recordof the sensor data 116 b.

[0151]FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station 500c having a transmission-reflection architecture. In this embodiment, thescanning station 500 c comprises a first lighting system 502 c, a secondlighting system 502 d, and a sensor system 504 c. In the preferredembodiment, the lighting system 502 c operates to illuminate the frontside of the film 106 with light 520 c, the second lighting system 502 doperates to illuminate the backside of the film 106 with light 520 d,and the sensor system 504 c operates to measure the light 520 creflected from the film 106 and the light 520 d transmitted through thefilm 106. Based on the measurements of the light 520 b, 520 d, thesensor system 504 c produces sensor data 116 c that is communicated tothe data processing system of the improved digital film processingsystem disclosed herein. Lighting system 502 c and 502 d are similar tolighting system 502, and sensor system 504 c is similar to the sensorsystem 504. Although scanning station 500 c is illustrated with lightingsystems 502 c, 502 d, a single light source may be used to produce lightthat is directed through a system of mirrors, shutters, filters, and thelike, to illuminate the film 106 with the front side of the film 106with light 520 c and illuminate the back side of the film 106 with light520 d. The light 520 c, 520 d may comprise any color or colorcombinations, including infrared light.

[0152] This embodiment of the scanning station 500 c utilizes many ofthe positive characteristics of the transmission architecture scanningstation 500 a and the reflection architecture scanning station 500 b.For example, the blue emulsion layer is viewed better by light 520 creflected from the film 106 than by light 520 d transmitted through thefilm 106; the green emulsion layer is viewed better by light 520 dtransmitted through the film 106 than by light 520 c reflected from thefilm 106; and the red emulsion layer is adequately viewed by light 520 dtransmitted through the film 106. In addition, the cost of the scanningstation 500 c is minimized through the use of a single sensor system 504c.

[0153] In the preferred embodiment of the scanning station 500 c, thelight 520 c comprises blue light, and light 520 d comprises red, green,and infrared light. The blue light 520 c interacts with the yellow dyeimage and silver in the blue emulsion layer of the film 106. The sensorsystem 504 c measures the light 520 c from the film 106 and produces ablue-silver record. The red and green light 520 d interacts with thecyan and magenta dye images, respectively, as well as the silver in thefilm 106. The infrared light 520 d interacts with the silver, but doesnot interact with the dye clouds within the film 106. As discussedpreviously, the silver contained within the film 106 may comprise silvergrains, silver halide, or both. The red, green, and infrared light 520 dtransmitted through the film 106 is measured by the sensor system 504 c,which produces a red-silver, green-silver, and silver record. Theblue-silver, red-silver, green-silver, and silver records form thesensor data 116 c that is communicated to the data processing system102. The data processing system 102 utilizes the silver record tofacilitate removal of the silver component from the red, green, and bluerecords.

[0154] In another embodiment, the light 520 c comprises blue light andinfrared light, and light 520 d comprises red, green, and infraredlight. As discussed previously, the blue light 520 c mainly interactswith the yellow dye image and silver within the blue emulsion layer ofthe film 106. The infrared light 520 c interacts with mainly the silverin the blue emulsion layer of the film 106. The sensor system 504 cmeasures the blue and infrared light 520 c from the film 106 andproduces a blue-silver record and a front side silver record,respectively. The red, green, and infrared light 520 d interact with thefilm 106 and are measured by the sensor system 504 c to producered-silver, green-silver and transmitted-silver records as discussedabove.

[0155] The blue-silver, red-silver, green-silver, and both silverrecords form the sensor data 116 c that is communicated to the dataprocessing system 102. In this embodiment, the data processing system102 utilizes the front side silver record of the blue emulsion layer tofacilitate removal of the silver component from the blue-silver record,and the transmission-silver record is utilized to facilitate removal ofthe silver component from the red and green records.

[0156] Although the scanning station 500 c is described in terms ofspecific colors and color combinations of light 520 c and light 520 d,the light 520 c and light 520 d may comprise other suitable colors andcolor combinations of light without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, light 520 c may comprise non-blue light,infrared light, broadband white light, or any other suitable light.Likewise, light 520 d may include blue light, broadband white light, oranother other suitable light. Scanning station 500 c may also compriseother suitable embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, although the scanning station 500 c isillustrated with two lighting systems 502 and a single sensor system504, the scanning station 500 c could be configured with a singlelighting system 502 and two sensor systems 504, wherein one sensorsystem measures light 520 reflected from the film 106 and the secondsensory system 504 measures light 520 transmitted through the film 106.In addition, as discussed above, the scanning station 500 may comprise asingle lighting system that illuminates the film 106 with light 520 cand light 520 d.

[0157]FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station 500d having a reflection-transmission-reflection architecture. In thisembodiment, the scanning station 500 d comprises a first lighting system502 e, a second lighting system 502 f, a first sensor system 504 e, anda second sensor system 504 f. In the embodiment illustrated, thelighting system 502 e operates to illuminate the front side of the film106 with light 520 e, and the second lighting system 502 f operates toilluminate the back side of the film 106 with light 520 f. The firstsensor system 504 e operates to measure the light 520 e reflected fromthe film 106 and the light 520 f transmitted through the film 106, andthe second sensor system 504 f operates to measure the light 520 freflected from the film 106 and the light 520 e transmitted through thefilm 106. Based on the measurements of the light 520 e and 520 f, thesensor systems 504 e, 504 f produce sensor data 116 ef that iscommunicated to the data processing system of the improved digital filmprocessing system disclosed herein. Lighting systems 502 e, 502 f aresimilar to lighting systems 502, and sensor systems 504 e, 504 f aresimilar to the sensor system 504. Although scanning station 500 d isillustrated with lighting systems 502 e, 502 f, and sensor systems 504e, 504 f, a single lighting system and/or sensory system, respectively,may be used to produce light that is directed through a system ofmirrors, shutters, filters, and the like, to illuminate the film 106with the frontside of the film 106 with light 520 e and illuminate thebackside of the film 106 with light 520 f.

[0158] This embodiment of the scanning station 500 d expands upon thepositive characteristics of the transmission-reflection architecture ofscanning station 500 c. For example, as discussed in reference to FIG.4C, the blue emulsion layer is viewed better by light 520 e reflectedfrom the film 106 and the green emulsion layer is viewed better by light520 e or 520 f transmitted through the film 106. Second sensor system504 f allows viewing of the red emulsion layer by light 520 f reflectedfrom the film 106, which generally produces better results than viewingthe red emulsion layer by light 520 e or light 520 f transmitted throughthe film 106.

[0159] In the preferred embodiment of the scanning station 500 d, thesensor systems 504 e, 504 f include a trilinear array of filtereddetectors, and the light 520 e and the light 520 f comprises broadbandwhite light and infrared light. The trilinear array operates tosimultaneously measure the individual red, green, and blue components ofthe broadband white light 520 e, 520 f. The infrared light is measuredseparately and can be measured through each filtered detector 510 of thesensor systems 504 e, 504 f. The broadband white light 520 e, 520 finteracts with the silver and magenta, cyan, and yellow color dyes inthe film 106, respectively, and the infrared light 520 e, 520 finteracts with the silver within the film 106. The reflected white light520 e measured by the first sensor system 504 e includes informationcorresponding to the yellow dye image and the silver in the blueemulsion layer of the film 106. In particular, the blue component of thebroadband white light 520 e measured by the blue detector of the sensorsystem 504 e corresponds to the yellow dye image, and the non-bluecomponents of the broadband white light 520 e measured by the red andgreen detectors corresponds to the red and green dye images and all thesilver within the emulsion layers of the film 106. Similarly, the redcomponent of the broadband white light 520 f measured by the reddetector of the sensor system 504 f corresponds largely to the cyan dyeimage, and the non-red components of the broadband white light 520 emeasured by the blue and green detectors corresponds to the yellow andmagenta dye images and all the silver within the emulsion layers of thefilm 106. The white light 520 e, 520 f transmitted through the film 106interacts with each color dye image and silver within the film 106, andthe red, green, and blue light components are measured by the red,green, and blue detectors of the sensor systems 504 e, 504 f to produceindividual red, green and blue light records that include the silverrecord. The infrared light 520 e reflected from the film 106 andmeasured by the sensor system 504 e corresponds largely to the silver inthe blue emulsion layer of the film 106, and the infrared light 520 freflected from the film 106 and measured by the sensor system 504 flargely corresponds to the silver in the red emulsion layer of the film106. The infrared light 520 e, 520 f transmitted through the film 106measured by the sensor systems 504 e, 504 f corresponds to the silver inthe red, green, and blue emulsion layers of the film 106. The individualmeasurements of the sensor systems 504 e, 504 f are communicated to thedata processing system of the improved digital film processing systemdisclosed herein as sensor data 116 ef. The data processing system ofthe improved digital film processing system disclosed herein processesthe sensor data 116 ef and constructs the digital image 108 using thevarious sensor system measurements. For example, the blue signal valuefor each pixel can be calculated using the blue detector data from thereflected light 520 e and the blue detector data from the transmittedlight 520 f, as modified by non-blue detector data from the reflectedlight 520 e, and the non-blue detector data from the transmitted light520 e or 520 f. The red and green signal values for each pixel can besimilarly calculated using the various measurements.

[0160] In another embodiment of the scanning station 500 d, the sensorsystems 504 e, 504 f include a trilinear array of filtered detectors,and the light 520 e and the light 520 f comprises broadband white light.This embodiment of the scanning station 500 d operates in a similarmanner as discussed above, with the exception that infrared light is notmeasured or used to calculate the digital image 108. Although thescanning station 500 d is described in terms of a specific colors andcolor combinations of light 520 e and light 520 f, the light 520 e andlight 520 f may comprise other suitable colors and color combinations oflight without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, thescanning station 500 d may comprise other suitable devices and systemswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

[0161]FIG. 5A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method fordeveloping and processing film. This method may be used in conjunctionwith one or more embodiments of the improved digital film developmentsystem as disclosed herein, which includes a data processing system anda film processing system having a transport system, a developmentsystem, and a scanning system. The development system includes anapplicator station 400 for applying a processing solution 404 to thefilm 106 and a development station 402. The scanning system 124comprises a single scanning station 500 operable to scan the film 106with light 520 having a frequency (wavelength) within the visible lightspectrum and produce sensor data 116 that is communicated to the dataprocessing system. The data processing system processes the sensor data116 to produce a digital image that may be output to an output device.

[0162] The method begins at step 600, where the transport system 120advances the film 106 to the applicator station 400. Film 106 isgenerally fed from a conventional film cartridge and advanced by thetransport system of the improved digital film processing systemdisclosed herein through the various stations of the film processingsystem of the improved digital film processing system disclosed herein.At step 602, processing solution 404 is applied to the film 106. Theprocessing solution 404 initiates production of silver and at least onedye image within the film 106. The processing solution 404 is generallyapplied as a thin coating onto the film 106, which is absorbed by thefilm 106. At step 604, the film 106 is advanced through the developmentstation 402 where the dye images and silver grains develop within thefilm 106. The environmental conditions, such as the temperature andhumidity, are generally controlled within development station 402. Thisallows the film 106 to develop in a controlled and repeatable manner andprovides the proper development time for the film 106. At step 606, thefilm 106 is scanned by the scanning system 124 using light 520 having atleast one frequency within the visible portion of the electromagneticspectrum, i.e., visible light. The visible light interacts with at leastone dye image within the film 106 and also the silver within the film106. In some embodiments, the light 520 used to scan the film 106 alsoincludes infrared light. Infrared light interacts with the silver, butis substantially unaffected by the dye images within the film 106. Asdiscussed in reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, the film 106 can be scanned in anumber of different ways embodied in a number of differentarchitectures, each with their own advantages. Sensor data 116 isproduced by the scanning system 124 and communicated to the dataprocessing system of the improved digital film processing systemdisclosed herein. At step 608, the sensor data 116 is processed toproduce the digital image. The data processing system of the improveddigital film processing system disclosed herein includes imageprocessing software that processes the sensor data 116 to produce thedigital image. The digital image represents the photographic imagerecorded on the film 106. At step 610, the digital image is output toone or more output devices, such as a monitor, a printer, networksystem, a storage device, a computer system, and the like.

[0163]FIG. 5B is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method fordeveloping and processing film. This method may be used with one or moreembodiments of the system improved digital film development thatincludes the development system 122 having the halt station 422. Thismethod is similar to the method described in FIG. 5A, with the exceptionthat development of the film 106 is substantially stopped by the haltstation 422.

[0164] The method begins at step 620, where the transport system 120advances the film 106 to the applicator station 400. At step 622,processing solution 404 is applied to the film 106. The processingsolution 404 initiates production of silver grains and at least one dyeimage within the film 106. At step 624, the film 106 is advanced throughthe development station 402 where the dye images and silver developwithin the film 106. At step 626, the continued development of the film106 is retarded or substantially stopped by the halt station 422.Retarding or substantially stopping the continued development of thefilm 106 allows the film 106 to be scanned using visible light 520without fogging the film 106 during the scanning process. For example,if the development of the film 106 is stopped, the film 106 can beexposed to visible light without negatively affecting the scanningprocess. The halt station 422 may comprise a number of embodiments. Forexample, the halt station 422 may apply a halt solution 424, such as ableach solution, fixer solution, blix solution, stop solution and thelike. The halt solution 424 may also operate to stabilize the film 106.The halt station 422 may also comprise a wiper, drying system, coolingsystem and the like. At step 628, the film 106 is scanned by thescanning system 124 using light 520 having at least one frequency withinthe visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., visiblelight. At step 630, the sensor data 116 is processed to produce thedigital image 108. At step 632, the digital image 108 is output to oneor more output devices, such as a monitor, a printer, a network system,storage device, a computer system, and the like.

[0165] While the invention has been particularly shown and described inthe foregoing detailed description, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various other changes in form and detail may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method for preparing a roll of film for development, the methodcomprising: receiving a film magazine having a roll of film therein at afilm unload station of a film processing system; extracting a tongue ofsaid roll of film from said magazine; unwinding the roll of film fromsaid magazine; cutting the trailing end of the film from said magazine;transporting a leading end of said film to a leader splicing apparatusof the film processing system; and splicing a trailing end of a leaderto the leading end of said film, wherein a leading end of the leader isthreaded at least partially through a developing apparatus of the filmprocessing system; wherein during said unwinding step, the methodfurther comprises inspecting the film for defects and imperfections. 2.A method according to claim 1, wherein said defects and imperfectionsinclude at least one of cuts, scratches, tears and missing perforationson said film.
 3. A method according to claim 1, comprising the furthersteps of: inspecting said film for proper length during said unwindingstep; and rewinding the film back into the film magazine if a defect,imperfection or improper film length is detected during said inspectingstep.
 4. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step ofsplicing a trailing end of said film to a leading end of a new sectionof leader.
 5. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further stepof conveying the film to a development station adapted to developexposed images on said film.
 6. A method according to claim 5,comprising the further step of controlling a temperature at thedevelopment station through a heating system.
 7. A method according toclaim 6, wherein said heating system includes at least a heated rollerprovided in a conveying path of said film.
 8. A method according toclaim 6, wherein said heating system includes at least a heated rollerand a heated element.